Action is already underway at the Olympics.
There are 102 medal events this year – the most ever! You can only cram so much activity into a day, so that means starting a few events early.
A few tidbits to remember:
- There is a 14-hour time difference between the live action in PyeongChang and your comfy bed in the GTA.
- Any time I say morning (ET), it means Eastern Time and morning means Early. The latest events will start at 7AM ET and last a couple hours. Action will finish by 9 or 10 AM and will pick up again at 6pm (and it will be ‘tomorrow’).
Mixed Doubles Curling:
On Day -1, Team Canada kicked off their Gold medal run in Mixed Doubles Curling with a double header. A unfortunate loss against Norway (9-6), but redemption in their win over the USA (5-4). You’ll notice some differences from the curling we are used to seeing.
There are 2 stones pre-positioned, 5 stones per team, and only two teammates – sometimes you’ll see the person throwing the rock and sweep it themselves.
Team Canada is composed of John Morris (2010 Men’s Curling Gold Medallist) and Kaitlyn Lawes (2014 Sochi Gold Medallist). This curling duo has an interesting backstory. Specifically, they don’t have a lengthy backstory. The two came together 30 minutes before Olympic Trials after Morris’ original teammate, Rachel Homan, qualified for the Olympics with the Women’s Curling team (watch out for this Skip later). It may be surprising to hear that Canada is not the favourite for the Mixed Doubles event; Canada has never brought home a world championship gold medal. Of course, we are still behind them!
Technical Note: Not sure if it’s the nature of the Mixed Doubles, or we’ve come much further since Sochi’s broadcast, but there is a LOT of talking on the ice. It’s quite interesting to hear their deliberation (and squabbling).
Men’s Ski Jumping Normal Hill qualifying jumps took place in the evening of Day (-1). Canada’s Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes finished 23rd (well within the top 50) to qualify for the First Round, which will take place on Day 1 (Friday night/Saturday morning ET). His post-jump interviews were honest, and somewhat comical:
How are you feeling? “Tired”
What are you going to do to prepare for the next round? “Stay loose, have fun, get some rest”
A man of few words.
Rolling right into Day 0.
Team Skating is underway, and the ladies and men are hitting the moguls for qualifying runs. Mixed Doubles Curling continues, as well.
The skating competition started slow with the men’s short program. Let’s just say that none of these guys has the charisma of Kurt Browning or Elvis Stojko. We’ll give the benefit of the doubt and state the obvious: It’s only the beginning of the competition and everyone is getting the jitters out. P. Chiddy (a.k.a. Patrick Chan) fell twice but it was good enough to earn Team Canada 8 points for 3rd place!
Back at the curling venue, we blinked and the match was over. Morris and Lawes “mercied” the Chinese duo 10-4 in End 7. Since there are only 5 stones, it would be impossible for China to win. Canada will take on Finland later tonight (11:30 ET).
Up at Bokwang Snow Park, the Ladies took to the Moguls for qualification. Top 10 move straight through to the final, while everyone else has to ski a second qualification round.
We know the Dufour-Lapointe sisters, Justine and Chloe, and we love them, but keep an eye out for Andi Naude (the only Canadian freestyle skier not from Quebec and Canada’s top lady). Justine, Andi and Audrey Robichaud finished Top 10 (and the luxury of a small break). Chloe finished just outside at 13th. We’ll see her again.
Check out the Finals Sunday morning (ET)
(Aside: We also just realized how old we are. Chloe (the veteran, at her third Olympics) is only 26. We met her when she was 18!)
The men are on the hill right now with Canadian Mikael Kingsbury leading the qualification round.
Time to nap before the Opening Ceremonies!